TBLC Library 2.0 Challenge

My last entry was about a recent study on educational trends to watch. ESchool News surveyed its readers about which trends they thought we most important and the results were:

LAST WEEK’S POLL RESULTS …

What is the “ed-tech trend to watch”?

38 percent said “User-created content”
12 percent said “Mobile phones”
24 percent said “Virtual worlds”
6 percent said “New scholarship and emerging forms of publication”
20 percent said “Massively multiplayer educational gaming”

The results got me thinking, which 2.0 trends do you think will most effect libraries in the next 1-5 years? Let me know by commenting here!

Slightly off-topic, but semi-relevant news from eSchool News Online. A new report came out today identifying the six emerging technologies educators need to be watching.

These technologies will be greatly impacting education as we know it in the next 1-5 years.

The trends are:

• User-created content
• Social networking
• Mobile phones
• Virtual worlds
• New scholarship and emerging forms of publication
• Massively multiplayer educational gaming

Many of these are the same new technologies we are working to adapt in libraries. The article focuses on how these new technologies can be integrated into the classroom - and I think these can be applied to the library as well. With virtual classrooms and libraries in Second Life, the ability to push short quizzes and news via cell phone, and the virtual social networking available to students (their need to find ‘the’ expert or a community leader, social network sites make these people more accessible than ever), the options are endless.

The article is available at the eSchool News site and is free with registration.

Last Friday, I gave a two general presentations on Web 2.0 at the HCPLC staff day. I had such a good time with both groups- fun, responsive and filled with great questions.

During the presentation, I talked about mashups, which are websites that integrate information from 2 or more sources to create a unique presentation of content. The most common is to integrate data from a database with maps. Examples can be seen at Google Maps Mania, Zillow (real estate values and a Google map), & Map Gas Prices. There are thousands of others out there as well.

However, thanks to Platial, anyone can create a mashup. After the presentation Friday, Robbie Diaz from Temple Terrace created a mashup of the Hillsborough County Library System! What a great example of how 2.0 can be easily put to use to create tools for your library.

Has anyone else tried Platial or other sites presented at the 2.0 Introduction session? Don’t forget, the sites presented are listed at http://del.icio.us/dee987.

Last week, a new video appeared on YouTube - called Web 2.0…The Machine is Us/ing Us. Check it out when you have a chance.  Its an interesting video with the 2.0 concept explained visually and set to music.

Tomorrow, I am presenting at the Suncoast Information Specialists meeting and at the HCPLC staff day on Friday about Web 2.0 and thought it would be a good idea to create a del.icio.us account to keep track of all of the sites I mention during the presentation. There are about 50 sites mentioned. I plan to add to this list of sites when I stumble upon interesting new 2.0 sites.

It is now live at - http://del.icio.us/dee987. The RSS Feed for this site is http://del.icio.us/rss/dee987 for everyone out their using an aggregator to keep track of sites. Check it out and let me know - am I missing your favorite site? What 2.0 sites are neglected that deserve some attention?

Community, collaboration, and creativity; these are all words used to describe libraries, but they are also great descriptors for these new emerging web tools that are collectively referred to as “Web 2.0.” As libraries all over the country begin to explore and take advantage of these new opportunities, library staff are beginning to shed old paradigms too and take a dip into the Library 2.0 pool. Come find how libraries are benefiting from this wave of new technology (most of which are completely free) and learn about how you can take up the 2.0 challenge yourself and discover new ways to reach library users and at the same time empower them to reach back.

Our presenter is Helene Blowers.  Helene is the Director of Technology at The Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County and is responsible for the implementation of new technology throughout the systems twenty-four branches as well as the library’s award winning web sites. She is co-author of the book, Weaving a Library Web: A Guide to Developing Children’s Websites and the visionary and creator of Learning 2.0, an online discovery program that encourages library staff to learn about web 2.0 technologies and to just “play”.

There is still room.  If you are interested in attending on January 17th, please register!

The Tampa Bay Library Consortium (TBLC) has recently challenged staff at its member libraries to the ‘2.0 Challenge.’ Through this year-long series, individuals are being challenged to implement and integrate Web 2.0 tools and concepts into their library’s services and their own professional development.  

Participants receive Golden Tickets for each activity they participate in throughout the year.    These Golden Tickets can be exchanged for exciting prizes.  Activities will include: ‘think tank’ sessions, training, web tutorials, and ‘creation’ of a technology.  Through this blog, TBLC plans to keep up with the latest 2.0 news, promote golden ticket opportunities and display examples of the 2.0 challenge appearing in local libraries.     

December 6
Filed under General by Diana | 4 comments